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Bernie Ecclestone hits out at Ferrari for contesting outcome of Brazilian Grand Prix

F1 supremo says Ferrari intervention is "a complete joke"

Last Updated: 30/11/12 11:47am

Vettel fought back from a first-lap spin to clinch a sixth-place finish that ensured him a third straight world title by just three points ahead of Ferrari's Fernando Alonso.

But the Italian marque have written to the FIA claiming the Red Bull driver may have passed Jean-Eric Vergne's Toro Rosso on lap four when yellow caution lights were being shown.

The FIA are set to confirm that Vettel does not have a case to answer as a trackside marshal was waving a green flag prior to the point where Vettel overtook Vergne, and Ecclestone is angry that Ferrari have questioned the race result.

"It's a shame because everything had gone so well," Ecclestone told the Daily Telegraph. "It was a super race, a super championship. Now everyone is talking about this. The problem is that no one knows what is going on.

"It's a complete joke. What Ferrari are saying in that letter is wrong. I don't think there needs to be any action taken. It's completely and utterly wrong.

"In the rules and regs normally you have to protest. They [Ferrari] missed that time. Then there is the fact that a green flag was shown, which nobody seems to dispute.

"Personally I think it's not really like Ferrari to do this. I think they badly wanted to win. But nothing will happen. What can they do? Take civil action? Maybe. But the case is flawed before it starts. Nothing is going to happen."

If Ferrari's complaint had been upheld, Vettel would have been hit with a retrospective 20-second drive-through penalty which would have demoted him to eighth place - therefore handing the title to Alonso by a single point.